How did increased trade along the trade routes help spread Christianity?

Answer 1

In Asia (particularly in the early centuries) trade routes had a huge effect. Of course, in a sense this is obvious. Without electronic media, Christianity as a faith and as a message had to be carried by people... which necessitated the use of trade routes.

However, there is more than that.

1. Christianity grew along trade routes and trading centers. Early church centers of Antioch (Syria) and Alexandria were funnel points for east-west trade. Duro-Europos in Mesopotamia, Samarkand, Burkhana, and the Southwest coast of India were all trade centers and centers of Christianity. A look at the spread of Christianity showed that it tended to go along the two major Asia trade routes. One was the land route that went from Antioch, Mesopotamia, Persia, Central Asia, Tarim Basin, to China. The other was the sea route that went from Alexandria (crossing land) to the Red Sea, Yemen, India, and Indochina. There is good correlation between the trade routes and the planting of churches, monasteries, schools, hospitals, libraries, and metropolitans.

2. Christian missions in the 1st millenium, at least, often used trade as an intentional method of missions. Missionaries were often involved in trade. Bishops often worked with traders. The high point of this method was in the 7th century when the Patriarch Yeshuyab II of the Church of the East (sometimes called the Nestorian Church) used the overland trade route to bring Christianity to China and plant churches and monasteries all along the route.

3. The nature of trade centers probably was more conducive to the spread of Christianity. Trade centers were more multicultural. Monocultural regions could be a barrier to the spread of the faith. However, where many different cultures co-exist, a level of acceptance of a new faith and new ideas could take root. Additionally trade centers were more multi-lingual than surrounding communities. This could make the spread of Christianity easier. Finally, trade centers were more accepting of foreigners. Some had districts that were for different cultural groups.

It is hard to say definitively if there is a correlation between the trade route activity and the spread of Christianity. However, increased trade would make the path for Christianity's spread easier. It would make trade as an intentional strategy for missions more palatable. It would also make the trading centers more conducive to new ideas and new people. Therefore, I believe a correlation could be inferred.

A short article at www. dakilangpagibigministries.org in the DOWNLOADS section under documents discusses this in greater detail. It may or may not be informative. However, the Bibliography provides many good sources of individuals and articles who know much on this topic.

yep sure did